A Music Lover’s Guide to Visiting Nashville

If you’re someone who loves music, is there any better place to visit than Nashville? After all, it’s known as Music City. From the daily shows at the Grand Ole Opry to the live music from up and comers along music row, music is everywhere in Nashville. The country music industry centers around this Tennessee city, and you’ll find musicians from other genres as well including rock and blues.

Along with great music, Nashville is generally a good place to visit thanks to the many restaurants and shops, the mild climate, and the people watching opportunities.

If you’re going to Nashville because you love music and you want to soak it all up, the following are some places to go and things to know.

Visit the Ryman

The Ryman Auditorium is often referred to as the Church of Country Music, and it’s one of the most significant historical landmarks for American music. The Ryman is located in downtown Nashville, and you can see exhibits, take backstage tours and even make your own record.

The Ryman was where Johnny Cash met June Carter, and it’s where many of country’s biggest names were discovered. The Ryman was originally home of the Grand Ole Opry, although that venue moved locations in the 1970s. During its time as home of the Opry, the Ryman hosted Elvis, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and many more.

Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Hall of Fame is another can’t-miss venue in downtown Nashville. There are various tickets you can opt for depending on the type of tour you want to take. You can take an audio guided tour, narrated by Bill Cody, or you can do a studio tour which goes through Elvis’s favorite studio.

The Country Music Hall of fame includes more than 2.5 million artifacts, and these include photos, costumes, instruments and more.

Show at the Grand Ole Opry

For more than 90 years the Grand Ole Opry has hosted the top talent in country music and now is no exception. The Grand Ole Opry has hosted Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks,and many others and there are frequent surprise performers at the nightly shows.

The Grand Ole Opry was initially founded in 1925 as the WSM Barn Dance. As it became more popular and hosted more and more attendees, the Grand Ole Opry moved from the Ryman to itscurrent location. You can always visit some bars in downtown Nashville.

The Bluebird Café

The Bluebird Café is another icon in country musicand music in general. The Bluebird Café is a live music listening room and performance venue, and it’s often where songwriters come to try out their songs that go on to become hits. The Bluebird Café is located in an unassuming strip mall near downtown Nashville, and it has only 90 seats.

From new talent to established songwriters and performers, at The Bluebird, it’s not just about country. You’ll also hear pop, rock,and other music genres.

As an example, Garth Brooks played both Open Mic and Sunday Songwriter’s Shows before he was discovered while at the Bluebird and eventually signed to Capitol Records.

When you go to the Bluebird Café, you’ll see anywhere from three to four songwriters that sit in the middle of the room and take turns playing their original songs. They’ll join in with one another instrumentally and to harmonize.

Go To East Nashville

While Nashville may be known for country music, there’s a lot more to the city than this in terms of musical genres. If you’re in town, take a visit to East Nashville, called “Nashville’s Coolest Neighborhood” by Vogue.

East Nashville is across the bridge from downtown, and it’s a diverse neighborhood where locals go to eat, drink and hang out.

You can visit Fanny’s House of Music, which is a music store located in an old Victorian House. They offer not only instruments but also lessons.

East Nashville is also where Fond Object Records is located. It’s a retro-themed store with rare vinyl records and stereo equipment. There’s even a petting zoo in the store.

Finally, there’s no way to go to Nashville and not walk around Lower Broadway, especially if you love music. This is known as Music Row or the Honky Tonk Highway, and it’s the quintessential Nashville experience. Along Lower Broadway, you’ll see bar after bar where live music pours from the windows. You can walk along all day and hear great performers, and it continues well into the night. Most places don’t have a cover charge either.